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Monday, September 5, 2011

Review: New Rite Aid Renewal Smudger Brush

A few weeks ago I purchased one of the new Rite Aid house brand (Renewal) synthetic makeup brushes and today I'd like to share my thoughts with you. If you'd like to see the rest of the brushes in this new line, click here.

Rite Aid Renewal Smudger Brush

(retail: $3.99)

The brushes in this line are synthetic (no animal hair) and they're all quite affordable. Of course if you're a Rite Aid Wellness+ member it's even better because members get an instant 10% off all Rite Aid house brands (and if you're a gold member like me, you get 20% off).

The first thing I noticed about this brush was the handle. I really like it because it's coated with a matte black plastic that sort of has the rubbery feel of a NARS compact. But thankfully, it doesn't seem to pick up makeup debris and dust as quickly or as easily as a NARS compact (geeze those are hard to keep clean, aren't they?). But my point is, the handle feels substantial when you hold it, and "rich" as opposed to cheap and flimsy.

The smudger brush itself is a great size for me. The bristles are very short and dense, making it perfect for smudging liner for a smoky eye, or for applying color to my crease or outer "v". You can really get deep into your crease with this brush, which is wonderful.

I want to repeat that the bristles on this brush are quite short. This is not a brush for blending; it's definitely built for smudging and applying crease shades. It's also good for packing on color. To give you an idea of how short the bristles are, here it is next to my $1 e.l.f. eyeshadow brush:

The e.l.f. brush is pretty short and compact itself, so I hope this gives you an idea of how short the bristles are on the Rite Aid brush.

As you can see, the Rite Aid brush is longer than the e.l.f. brush.

Bottom line: I love this brush. The bristles are incredibly soft--much softer than I was anticipating. This brush feels and functions like a quality brush that would cost three times the amount. I honestly was surprised by how much I like this one, and I find myself reaching for it to apply my crease shades and smudge my liner. I also like it for applying a thin layer of powder shadow over my eyeliner for extra staying power and a super smoky look.

I've washed this brush over five times now and I haven't experienced any shedding. The ferrule seems solid as well (no wobbling or looseness yet).

FINAL VERDICT: I love the Rite Aid Renewal Smudger Brush and I can't wait to try other brushes from this line. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this brush, and if you're looking for a new brush to apply crease shades or blend your liner, this might be a nice option for you at just $3.99 (less if you're a Wellness+ member). So far this one hasn't let me down one bit.

Have you tried any of the new Rite Aid Renewal makeup brushes? Thoughts?